How to use Steam Chat with Empathy

Like most Linux users, I prefer to have all my IM needs met by one and only one client. My client of choice being Empathy, since it integrates nicely with my Cinnamon desktop under Linux Mint Debian Edition 201403. So far, my People Nearby, XMPP/Google Talk, Facebook (back when I used it) and even SameTime (which I needed back when I was working for a customer that standardised on umm, let's say "weird" software stacks) all worked very well. But, I had one need unmet... Steam Chat!

Chauffeino: obligatory picture

It ain't pretty, but it's alive...

Chauffeino: introducing my new pet project...

I recently bought a new room thermostat to replace the old one. With my life becoming more hectic lately, and no fixed routine during the week, the old thermostat which had one program for weekdays and one for weekends was showing its limits. I could either program it frugally and arrive at a cold house some days of the week, or program it for comfort and waste heat on an empty house the other days of the week. Full 7-day individually programmable thermostat to the rescue. And life was good...

Until of course, it wasn't.